Taylor Momsen Biography : People.com

Biography

2000: November 17
'Who' Debut
Momsen lands the kid role of a lifetime as little Cindy Lou Who in the live action remake of How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey. Momsen's performance charms audiences and earns her a Young Artist Award nomination. She follows Grinch with family flicks Spy Kids 2 and Hansel & Gretel with Dakota Fanning.
2007: May
Going Indie
At 14, Momsen lands a supporting role in director Gus Van Sant's dark arthouse flick Paranoid Park, portraying the lustful girlfriend of a depressed skater suspected of murder. The risqué role, which includes a sex scene, is a departure from Momsen's squeaky clean image. "It's a totally different experience than anything I've ever done," Momsen tells Nylon magazine.
September 19
Gossip's 'It' Girl
Momsen's turn as Jenny Humphrey on the CW's Gossip Girl makes her a household name. As the innocent rival of Upper East Side Queen Bee Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester), "Little J" becomes a fan favorite. "I have two different modes: I have my on-set mode, and then I have...my Taylor mode," Momsen tells The New York Observer. "And when I'm in my Taylor mode, I forget that people still see me as Jenny. It takes a minute." The breakout hit costars Penn Badgley, Blake Lively, Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick.
2008: April 28
Gossip Girl Covers New York
The cast of Gossip Girl strips down for New York magazine, which calls the teen soap "the most awesomely awesome show ever." That week, the entire cast also lands on PEOPLE's Most Beautiful List. "[She's] pretty much perfect," Chace Crawford tells PEOPLE of his young costar.
June
Taylor Goes Edgy
The leggy blonde signs with IMG modeling agency and poses for an avant-garde spread for French magazine Crash. "I love high fashion," Momsen tells Blackbook. "It's been such a big part of my life, models and fashion, so it's really exciting to enter that world. It's a whole different ballgame." Trading her cutesy curls for a punk rock shag, Momsen goes glam goth as she makes her rounds on the red carpet party circuits.